Notes: Yus, chapter 2. I actually had this written a week ago, but…ehh…

Shout outs to: Foxfire, Lady Geuna (I guess you'll have to wait and see then, huh? ^_~), Tenshi no ai (*laugh* it's "intRIGUing"), Sarri-chan, Vashkoda (I know. Sorry…English ain't my first language, so…), Ewen (well, jeez. In that case, I have to keep you interested, then, huh? ^_^), Shinigami (I already have two, but thanks for offering anyway ^_^), and chibichibi-neko (arigatou! Here it is. ^_^). You guys rock!

Learning to Breathe

Dos

Kyou eyed the sleeping boy warily. Nothing seemed fatally wrong about Haru, except for the fact that he looked like he hadn't been fed for a month, but they called Hatori anyway.

Right now, the doctor was talking quietly with Shigure by the doorway. He turned his gaze to Tohru who was busy wiping a wet towel on Haru's face, whispering soothing words, Yuki beside him. He himself was sitting on chair by the desk—not too near that it would look like he cared, but not too far that it makes him look like an unconcerned asshole. Besides, he preferred to sit there so he can catch bits and pieces from the adults' conversation. So far, he caught the words 'dehydration', 'starving', and 'drugs'. He shrugged and turned back to the three on the bed. Maybe Haru was on some sort of diet or something. That stupid cow.

A few seconds later, he heard footsteps from the doorway and didn't even bother to lift his eyes for he knew it was just Hatori and the baka inu. They stopped by the bed, a few inches away from where Yuki and Tohru sat. He almost snorted. He knew that Yuki was just there so he could be beside Tohru and she'd think that he actually gave a damn. Damn mouse.

Hatori cleared his throat and all eyes turned to him. "Well, I'll be going now. Don't let him go out unsupervised, and tell me if anything goes wrong."

Shigure's eyes brightened. "Ne, Ha-san, why don't you stay here? I'm sure Tohru-kun will whip up something delicious for dinner, ya wouldn't wanna miss it!"

Tohru looked up, smiling. "Hai, Hatori-san. You can stay! It'll be lots of fun!"

~*~

After dinner, Yuki excused himself to go up to his room. Kyou went up to the roof while Shigure and Hatori retreated to Shigure's office. Torhu just smiled and collected the dishes.

When the door to Shigure's office shut, Hatori spoke up. "Are you sure you can keep an eye on him?"

Shigure pouted. "Mou…Ha-san, have you no faith?"

"Do you want the truth?"

"Hidoi!"

Lighting up a cigarette, Hatori walked over to the balcony and watched the sky. "I'm worried."

Shigure sidled up next to him, immediately going serious. "I know. Me, too."

"He's not usually like this. At least not this bad." Hatori said, blowing smoke through his nose.

Taking the pack from Hatori's shirt pocket, Shigure lit himself a stick before handing the box back to the other. "So, I take it the new friends aren't being very helpful?"

The doctor didn't even regard that with an answer, he just shot his cousin a look that clearly said 'duh. Ya think?' Shigure chuckled. "What now?"

Hatori sighed. "Now, I go home. I tell Akito that Haru's staying here—not like he'd care—and we watch him. As closely as possible."

"You think we should tell the kids?"

"You think we can get away with discreetly telling them to watch over their cousin very closely and not let him go near any drug-dealing, pot-smoking, lice-breeding looking guys with no explanation whatsoever? Good luck."

Taking a deep drag, Shigure bit back laughter. It wasn't often that Hatori uses sarcasm with a passion. Then again, it also wasn't often that one of their cousins almost died of alcohol poisoning. He shook his head. At least Haru was able to throw up before passing out. "It's getting late."

Hatori nodded. With one final drag, he stubbed his stick on the railing. Without a word, he turned around and walked leisurely to the door, leaving Shigure staring out, cigarette still in hand. "I'll drop by tomorrow to check up on things." And the door shut.

Shigure nodded.

~*~

Kyou was worried.

No, he was more than worried. He was angry. He was sad. He wanted Haru to be okay.

The others couldn't see it (or maybe they just don't care), but he gets very unsettled when any one of them got sick. Even Yuki. Or Akito. His Shishou told him that sometimes, sickness can also be brought about by what the person feels. If the mind and heart are as weak as the body, a person won't even have the strength to stand up on their own. It's how everything is connected.

Maybe that's why Akito was so sick all the time.

He shook his head. Focus. Haru. Right.

He didn't tell anyone, but he was sure Shigure caught up on it, and Hatori would most definitely know. When he brought Haru in, the other boy had a very distinct alcoholic smell. He couldn't tell Tohru about it because he knew the girl would just have a seizure. And there was no way in hell he'd even consider talking to Yuki about anything.

What's up with that fat cow, anyway, drinking like that?

He knew something else was up. Something bigger. Hatori and Shigure were talking far too long, with far too hushed voices to even hide it. Maybe the others noticed it, too, but like him, they decided to just wait things out.

Watch him closely, Hatori said. Why? Is Haru doing anything funky?

Light suddenly emanated from the room below him, to the right. Shigure's office. I bet that damned place is filled with hentai books that he wrote. Ch'. He heard the door that led to the balcony open and someone stepped out. He heard a voice. Hatori. And then, another one. That baka inu. They're talking again.

His curiosity piqued to the fullest now, he slowly crawled over to the edge and leaned toward the source of the voices. They're talking about Haru.

After a few minutes, there was only silence and he could hear the sound of a door close. Hatori left and he had no idea what the heck they were talking about. What new friends? I've never seen Haru with anyone else besides that annoying usagi. He sighed. Well, that was helpful.

He remained in that position for a few minutes when he heard it. It was quiet, melodious, and very familiar. It was Shigure's chuckling. "Don't worry, Kyou-chan! You'll find out tomorrow!"

Eyes wide, Kyou grasped the edges of the roof to keep from falling. "I wasn't listening!"

Shigure laughed again. "I know, I know. Good night, Kyou."

~*~

Yuki shut his notebook. He'd been staring at the damned thing for almost half an hour. Practically ever since he stepped in the room and sat in front of it. Walking over to his bed, he plopped himself and placed both hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling now, instead.

Haru. The whole time he knew his cousin, no matter how dazed the other may seem to the world, it just wasn't like him to fall asleep on a sidewalk somewhere. There had got to be something more to it.

Now that he thought of it, he did see Haru with a bunch of rugged-looking guys the week before. He didn't mind it because for them, having friends is one luxury that they didn't often indulge in. Besides, Haru actually looked like he fitted there.

When realization struck him, he sat up straight. Could it be...? He wouldn't. But he can…I swear to god, if he did… Hastily getting off the bed, he opened the door and walked three doors to the end of the hall.

He slowly slid the door open, careful not to wake the occupant of the room. Stepping in, he slid the door shut as gently and tiptoed over to the bed. He gazed down at his sleeping cousin, carefully assessing his physical features. In sleep, Haru looked like an angel, with his white hair and pale skin, and the gentle rise of his cheekbone. He could actually pass for a girl. But not as well as Yuki can pull it off. Wrinkling his nose at the thought, the purple-haired teenager knelt down beside the bed, eyes still glued to the slumbering boy. He almost felt bad for Haru. Despite the rather tough exterior, he knew how fragile and soft his younger cousin was and he didn't think he can forgive himself if anything bad ever happened to the other.

Stroking the hair spread across the pillows like a halo, Yuki prayed his thoughts would prove him wrong. If they did prove him right…if they did…Akito's gonna pay dearly.

~*~

Tohru Honda wiped her hands on a rag and looked around the kitchen, nodding. She was tired. What with the events of the day, and she still had to do the normal things she did around the house.

Giving the place one last look, she went to check the doors and windows and went upstairs.

She was about to go in her room, when the door at the end of the hall caught her eyes. She yawned. She's tired, but it won't hurt to check up on Haru before going to bed. Slowly, she slid the door open, but her eyes widened at what she saw. Inside, Yuki kneeled by the bed, head cushioned by his folded arms, peacefully sleeping. On the bed, Haru had the same peaceful expression as he slumbered. Loathe to disturb the mood and wake both boys up, she opened the door enough so she could squeeze in and tiptoed to the closet at one end of the room. Opening it, she picked up a blanket and secured it around the sleeping Yuki. Admiring her work, he stepped back and gave them both one final glance before she tiptoed back out, shutting the door.

When she got in her room, she went straight to her desk, smiling at the picture sitting there. "Konban wa, Okaa-san. So many things happened today. This morning, Kyou-kun brought Hatsuharu-san in. He said he saw Hatsuharu-san on the sidewalk beside the grocery, sleeping there. We called Hatori-san and he took care of him." She sighed. "I'm worried, Okaa-san. I think Hatsuharu-san is having some problems…" she yawned. "Ahh…okaa-san, I'm tired. I guess I should go to sleep now, ne? Oyasumi…" kissing the ends of her index and middle fingers, she pressed them against the glass of the frame and stood up, changing into her night clothes.

AN: I'm…supposed to say something here, but I forgot what. Oh, yeah. I don't like Tohru's version. I actually did the whole chapter already, when I realized that everyone had their parts, except her. This is the reason why I don't like writing stories where there are lots of characters…